Rules Governing Admission to the Bar of Maryland - Maryland Rules, Title 19, Chapters 100 and 200 - Adopted by the Court of Appeals of Maryland June 6, 2016 - Effective July 1, 2016

Sep 21, 2026

Rules governing admission to the Maryland Bar define key terms and establish the structure and authority of the State Board of Law Examiners and related character committees. The rules explain how applications are filed, clarify roles of applicants and petitioners, and define the scope of board supervision over character and fitness procedures. Additional provisions address confidentiality, subpoena power and related process, as well as when disclosures may be authorized before the Court of Appeals.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages42

Reading Time1 h 46 min

AccessFree to download

Rule 19-101. Definitions

Rule 19-102. State Board of Law Examiners

Rule 19-103. Character Committees

Rule 19-104. Subpoena Power

Rule 19-105. Confidentiality

Rules Governing Admission to the Bar of Maryland (Maryland Rules, Title 19, Chapters 100 and 200) (Adopted by the Court of Appeals of Maryland June 6, 2016) (Effective July 1, 2016) and Rules of the Board (Adopted and amended through June 6, 2016) These Rules Governing Admission to the Bar of Maryland are contained in the CURRENT REPLACEMENT VOLUME OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND, MARYLAND RULES Members, State Board of Law Examiners State of Maryland Jonathan A. Azrael, Esq., Chairman John F. Mudd, Esq. Maurene E. McNeil, Esq. Linda D. Schwartz, Esq. David E. Ralph, Esq. Matthew T. Mills, Esq. Gregory H. Getty, Esq. For Further Information Contact: Jeffrey C. Shipley, Esq., Secretary & Administrative Director Barbara L. Gavin, Esq., Director of Character and Fitness Rose E. Berg, Clerk to the Board State Board of Law Examiners 2011F Commerce Park Drive Annapolis, MD 21401 Telephone: (410) 260-3640 [www.mdcourts.gov](www.mdcourts.gov) This unofficial copy of the Bar Admission Rules has been assembled as a convenience for bar applicants. In the event of any conflict between this document and the official, published editions of the Maryland Rules, the published Rules control. MARYLAND RULES OF PROCEDURE TITLE 19 – ATTORNEYS CHAPTER 100 – STATE BOARD OF LAW EXAMINERS AND CHARACTER COMMITTEES TABLE OF CONTENTS Rule 19-101. DEFINITIONS (a) ADA (b) Applicant; Petitioner (c) Board (d) Court (e) Filed (f) MBE (g) Member of the Bar ofa State (h) MPT (i) NCBE (j) Oath (k) State (l) Transmit Rule 19-102. STATE BOARD OF LAW EXAMINERS (a) Appointment (b) Quorum (c) Authority (1) Generally (2) Adoption of Rules (d) Amendment of Board Rules – Posting (e) Professional Assistants (f) Compensation of Board Members and Assistants (g) Secretary to the Board (h) Fees Rule 19-103. CHARACTER COMMITTEES Rule 19-104. SUBPOENA POWER (a) Subpoena (1) Issuance (2) Name of Applicant (3) Return (4) Dockets and Files (5) Action to Quash or Enforce (b) Sanctions (c) Court Costs Rule 19-105. CONFIDENTIALITY (a) Proceedings Before Accommodations Review Committee, Character Committee, or Board (b) Right of Applicant (1) Right to Attend Hearings and Inspect Papers (2) Exclusions (c) When Disclosure Authorized (d) Proceedings and Access to Records in the Court of Appeals MARYLAND RULES OF PROCEDURE TITLE 19 – ATTORNEYS CHAPTER 100 – STATE BOARD OF LAW EXAMINERS AND CHARACTER COMMITTEES Rule 19-101. DEFINITIONS In this Chapter and Chapter 200 of this Title, the following definitions apply, except as expressly otherwise provided or as necessary implication requires: (a) ADA "ADA" means the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §12101, et seq. (b) Applicant; Petitioner “Applicant” means an individual who applies for admission to the Bar of Maryland (1) pursuant to Rule 19-202, or (2) as a “petitioner” under Rule 19-213. (c) Board "Board" means the Board of Law Examiners ofthe State of Maryland. (d) Court "Court" means the Court of Appeals of Maryland. (e) Filed "Filed" means received in the office of the Secretary of the Board during normal business hours. (f) ME "MBE" means the Multistate Bar Examination published by the NCBE. (g) Member of the Bar ofa State “Member of the Bar ofa State” means an individual who is unconditionally admitted to practice law before the highest court of that State. (h) MPT "MPT" means the Multistate Performance Test published by the NCBE. (i) NCBE “NCBE” means the National Conference of Bar Examiners. (j) Oath "Oath" means a declaration or affirmation made under the penalties of perjury that a certain statement of fact is true. (k) State "State" means (1) a state, possession, territory, or commonwealth of the United States or (2) the District of Columbia. (l) Transmit “Transmit” means to convey written material in a manner reasonably

FAQs

What does the rule define as an “Applicant” or a “Petitioner” for Maryland Bar admission?

An “Applicant” is an individual seeking admission to the Maryland Bar under Rule 19-202 or as a “petitioner” under Rule 19-213. A “petitioner” is an admission-seeking role defined within the rules’ framework.

How is the State Board of Law Examiners appointed, and what is required of its members?

The State Board of Law Examiners consists of seven members appointed by the Court. Each member must be admitted to practice law in Maryland, and quorum is a majority of the authorized membership.

When is disclosure authorized and how does confidentiality apply to proceedings?

Confidentiality covers proceedings before the accommodations review committee, character committee, or the Board, and also addresses a right of the applicant to attend hearings and inspect papers with stated exclusions. Separate provisions specify when disclosure is authorized, including proceedings and access to records in the Court of Appeals.

Sep 21, 2026

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